South Bronx cases double to 65 since Thursday

1977: Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control announce that they had sufficient laboratory evidence to implicate a previously unknown strain of bacteria as the cause of Legionnaire's Disease, now named Legionella pneumophila. An outbreak of the potentially fatal infectious disease in Philadelphia in 1976, largely among people attending a state convention of the American Legion, led to the name "Legionnaires' Disease." After the bacteria causing the illness was named, the name of the illness was changed to legionellosis.

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1977: Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control announce that they had sufficient laboratory evidence to implicate a previously unknown strain of bacteria as the cause of Legionnaire's Disease, now named Legionella pneumophila. An outbreak of the potentially fatal infectious disease in Philadelphia in 1976, largely among people attending a state convention of the American Legion, led to the name "Legionnaires' Disease." After the bacteria causing the illness was named, the name of the illness was changed to legionellosis.

CDC

The number of deaths in the New York City Legionnaires' disease outbreak is up to four.

Seventy-one cases of the flu-like disease have been reported since mid-July in the South Bronx, up from 31 on Thursday, the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said Sunday.

Legionnaires' disease is a respiratory bacterial infection usually spread through mist that comes from a water source, such as cooling towers, air conditioning or showers. It is not transmitted person to person. Symptoms of the disease include fever, chills and a cough.

Most people recover, but between 5% to 30% of those who get the disease die, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The four victims were all older adults with additional underlying medical problems, the city said. Fifty-five individuals are hospitalized.

"We are conducting a swift investigation to determine the source of the outbreak and prevent future cases. I urge anyone with symptoms to seek medical attention right away," Dr. Mary Bassett, commissioner of the health department, said on Thursday.

The department's probe includes testing water from potential sources in the area.

Five buildings in the outbreak cluster, including a hospital and a hotel, have so far tested positive for traces of the legionella bacteria. Environmental cleaning and taking any corrective measures needed has been completed in all five locations, the city said Sunday.

"The New York City water supply does not pose a risk, so people should continue to feel confident in drinking tap water to stay cool during this period of hot weather," said Bassett.

At a City Hall press conference Thursday afternoon, Mayor Bill de Blasio warned that anyone with symptoms should get tested, but he said that most New Yorkers are not at risk.

The city health department continues to employ disease detectives to investigate the source of the outbreak and is conducting outreach to vulnerable populations including the elderly and homeless. A town hall discussion between community members and city medical experts entitled "The Facts About Legionnaires Disease" is scheduled for Monday evening.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. said on Friday that his office will push for legislation to create a citywide inspection system that would test building water infrastructure for the disease and others.

"The city must create a new inspection system for these systems, just as we inspect other critical systems such as elevators," Diaz said in statement.

An outbreak of the disease killed two people at a hotel in downtown Chicago in 2012.

An estimated 8,000 to 18,000 hospitalized cases of Legionaires' disease occurs each year in the United States. An outbreak of the disease in Philadelphia in 1976, largely among people attending a convention of the American Legion, led to its name.

Rocky Fire in Northern California has burned 46,000 acres

California's largest wildfire is spreading quickly, consuming 47,000 acres in three counties and staying active throughout the night -- a time when firefighters typically make progress, a state fire official said Sunday.

The Rocky Fire was only 5% contained Sunday and was feeding on the state's drought to grow actively, said Daniel Berlant, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.

"This has been a very fast-moving wildfire with the dry conditions and the weather not really cooperating with us over the past week," Berlant told CNN affiliate KCRA.

The wildfire was burning in Lake, Yolo and Colusa counties northwest of Sacramento. More than 12,100 people in more than 5,100 structures were under some type of evacuation order or advisory as of Sunday afternoon, according to the Cal Fire website.

Almost 2,000 fire personnel, 180 engines, four air tankers and 19 helicopters are battling the Rocky Fire.

Little relief after dark

Nighttime typically allows firefighters to make headway against wildfires because humidity will go up and fire activity will die down -- but that hasn't been the case with the Rocky Fire, Berlant said.

"This fire was very active throughout the night," he told KCRA. It was really burning very fast, all the way up into the late hours, so unfortunately we're really not getting a break."

The Rocky Fire was one of two dozen wildfires burning in California on Sunday. More than 8,000 firefighters were involved statewide, helped by the addition of large air tankers, including at least one National Guard C-130, Berlant said.

The dry conditions mean there's been little benefit from the cooler temperatures over the past week, he said.

Lightning is also a problem. There have been several thousand lighting strikes over the past three days, igniting several hundred small wildfires in the northern part of the state -- and the accompanying thunderstorms have produced little or no rain, Berlant said.

One fireman was killed in the line of duty.

The U.S. Forest Service confirmed David Ruhl, a father of two from Rapid City, South Dakota, died fighting the Frog Fire in Northern California's Modoc National Forest near Adin. Rescuers found Ruhl's body Friday morning, the Forest Service said, adding that his death remains under investigation.

Progress in other places

Authorities reported strides in two other fires: the Willow Fire northeast of North Fork in the Sierra National Forest and the Cabin Fire east of Porterville in the Sequoia National Forest.

The Willow Fire is 60% contained, and firefighters made "good progress" with a controlled-burn operation intended to deprive the blaze of more fuel, the South Central Sierra Interagency Incident Management Team said.

"Air resources will support ground crew as needed (as) soon as smoke conditions clear and allow for safe aerial operations," the team said.

Evacuation orders remain in effect for those around the fire, which has already consumed more than 5,600 acres.

The Cabin Fire, which has burned 2,600 acres since mid-July, remained relatively calm overnight, but it was only 2% contained, according to a news release from the Sequoia National Forest.

"If the weather conditions are favorable today, firefighters may begin strategic firing operation near Pecks (Canyon) to remove unburned fuels between the fire line and the main fire in the afternoon," the statement said.

Neither the Willow nor the Cabin fires has destroyed any structures, but six people have been injured in the Willow Fire.

State of emergency

Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency Friday to help gather additional resources.

The fires vary in size. The White Fire in Santa Barbara County is about 50 acres, and the deadly Frog Fire has consumed at least 3,900 acres since it was spotted Thursday and is just 4% contained. The recently snuffed-out Lake Fire in San Bernandino County burned more than 31,000 acres before it was contained.

Cal Fire says most of the fires are more than 60% contained. However, the land damage has been substantial in some cases. Fires in Southern California's San Bernardino County and Northern California's Alpine County have incinerated nearly 50,000 acres.

California's record-setting drought has "turned much of the state into a tinderbox," Brown said.

Temperatures in Sacramento and other areas of Northern California, where many of the fires are located, have topped 100 degrees recently.

President Barack Obama said Thursday night that he can feel some Democratic members of Congress getting "squishy" in their support of the Iran deal, bowing to the "political heat" they feel from the "fierce" lobbying campaign against the Iran deal.

The "Clean Power Plan" is the final version of regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency, which President Barack Obama called "the biggest most important step we've ever taken to combat climate change," in a video released by the White House on social media Saturday night.

Under the plan, the administration will require states to meet specific carbon emission reduction standards, based on their individual energy consumption. The plan also includes an incentive program for states to get a head start on meeting standards on early deployment of renewable energy and low-income energy efficiency.

"Power plants are the single biggest source of harmful carbon pollution that contributes to climate change," Obama said in the video. "Until now, there have been no federal limits to the amount of carbon pollution plants dump in the air."

Even before the rule was announced, many states announced plans to fight it, including some vows to take the administration to court over the new rules. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urged states not to comply with the plan in a letter to all 50 governors.

Critics also said that the plan will bring unwelcome increases in electricity prices.

"This plan is all pain and no gain," said Luke Popovich, vice president of communications for the National Mining Association. "That's why state leaders across the country are coming to the same conclusion -- that we should not sacrifice our power system to an unworkable plan built on a faulty interpretation of the law."

In a conference call with the press, Gina McCarthy, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, said the plan would cost a total of $8.4 billion with total benefits expected to be $34 billion to $54 billion.

"Some special interest critics will tell you that it can't be done," McCarthy said on Sunday. "They'll say we have to focus on the economy at the expense of the environment. They'll tell you EPA's plan will turn the lights off and send utility bills through the roof but they are wrong."

A multi-million dollar campaign backed by the energy industry has sought to debunk the science of climate change, but polls show most Americans believe the planet is warming.

Coal supplied 37% of U.S. electricity in 2012, compared to 30% from natural gas, 19% from nuclear power plants, 7% from hydropower sources such as dams and 5% from renewable sources such as wind and solar, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

EPA officials have conceded in the past that some of the dirtiest power plants now operating, such as older coal-fired plants, will end up shuttered as the nation shifts its reliance from traditional fossil fuel sources to cleaner alternatives.

The impending battle ahead could be seen as a major legacy issue for Obama as he transitions into the last quarter of his presidency.

"There are few issues more important to the president," a senior administration official said, adding that Obama is likely to make the case that climate change is a moral, economic and national security obligation in the months ahead.

The news of the President's plan was hailed on Sunday by Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Martin O'Malley but was deeply criticized by Republican candidates.

"It will make the cost of electricity higher for millions of Americans," Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, said Sunday at the Freedom Partners Summit in California.

"If there's some billionaire somewhere who is a pro-environmental, cap-and-trade person, yeah, they can probably afford for their electric bill to go up a couple of hundred dollars," Rubio said. "But if you're a single mom in Tampa, Florida, and your electric bill goes up by $30 a month, that is catastrophic."

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, also running for president, said on Sunday climate change "will not be solved by grabbing power from states or slowly hollowing out our economy."

"The real challenge is how do we grow and prosper in order to foster more game-changing innovations and give us the resources we need to solve problems like this one," he said.

Expecting a tough fight, the White House will launch an "all-out climate push" by the President and cabinet officials to fan out to sell the plan. In the coming weeks, Obama will travel to Nevada to speak at the National Clean Energy Summit and later become the first sitting President to go to the Alaskan Arctic.